Manylion Hawlfraint

7 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

ÇALL BIGHTS RESK»';J».I Hester's…

Newyddion

Dyfynnu

Rhannu

ÇALL BIGHTS RESK»';J».I Hester's Christmas Evfc rr KATHARINE NEWLDT. It was Tommy, the druggist. Wis boy, that first called Mr. Carmicnael a Curmud- geon. g "I don't know exactly what it means," he said, "but I'm thinking it would mean a fierce old fellow that would set a dog against a boy sooner than give him a penny." After that the village children were very much afraid of the Curmudgeon. Not en- tirely because of Tommy, though, but also because of the Curmudgeon's eagle face and •q uick-moving eyebrows. Whenever the children chanced to meet Mr. Carmichael marching along the village street they turned the nearest corner and ran for home. At such times he was on his way either to the post office or to his own house on the hill. He never varied his beat to the village, but he rambled freely over his own acres and other people's distant woodlands, carrying a gun under his arm and followed by a great black, deep-voiced h( -id. He never tried to shoot anything, but he looked, so Tommy said, "awf'ly fierce. The house on the hill had not been the Curmudgeon'ts very long. In the village Mr. Carmichael was still spoken of as the "new old gentleman." The "old old gentle- man had not been a Curmudgeon. He had been "a dear"—a plump, ruddy- cheeked, twinkly-eyed dear. He had loved children, and had given famous parties— Christmas parties in especial, that would make your mouth water. The children, whose round little heads hadi bobbed familiarly into everv one of the rooms of Endicott House, thought it very cruel that just before a Christmas time they should be barred out of it by a Curmudgeon. "I wouldn't have eared so much," growled Tommy, in the midst of a group of chil- dren pelting home from school the day before vacation, "if it hadn't been a Christ- mas time. But it's too unfair that any- body's Christmas fun should be spoiled by an old Curmudgeon." "He must be lonely up there on the hill," murmured small Hester, the doctor's little girl. "Jes' a big dog and no one else to play with. He will be very lonely Christ- mas Eve." "Dare you to go up and spend it with lim, then taunted Tommy. The colour came flushing all over Resters face and she shrank back a little. She was a shy, small, sensitive girl, the sort of little girl that unmanly boys delight to tease and manly boys love to protect. It seemed such a silly idea to give Hester a (lare" that the children laughed out in a chorus that rang through the frosty air like a prophecy of Christmas bells. Hester and the black dog and the Curmudgeon^— that would be a likely party for a Christ- maci Eve! But though Hester laughed a little with them, -she could not forget the Curmud- geon's loneliness. She thought of him so much during holiday-week, that several times her feet turned, almost of their own accord, towards the entrance of Endicott House. Long after the other children had forgotten Tommy's Filly dare, she thought of it, not as a dare, for Hester had to sus- tain no reputation for courage, but as ax idea, that somehow weighed upon her tender little heart like a dutiful kindness that should not be left undone. A lonely Christ- mas Eve! Why, nobody, not the fiercest Curmudgeon that ever lived, should have a lonely Christmas Eve. She thought of her own father with 1 his "8Íx rollicking youngsters, and then she thought of the Curmudgeon with his black dog. Can a dog wish his master a merry Christmas? No, not with the best will in the world. This picture of the lonely Curmudgeon quite spoiled the Sunday-school Christmas treat for Hester. It was given on the afternoon of the twenty-fourth, the won- derful "day before," that is somehow even more wonderful than the Day itself. But Hester slipped off during the last game and let herself out of the rectory. Already it was Christmas Eve. The ruddy sunset light had faded. There was a thin layer of snow that sparkled evenly like the snow on Christmas-cards. Above, the star* were beginning to sparkle in the same dim, universal way. But one great star hung apart from the rest. It hung like a sap- Ptire and silver lamp just above the dark lioii8e on tne mil. it seemea as it the star beckoned to Hester, for she stepped quickly towards it over the dry, bright snow Just before she reached Endicott House the star disappeared behind the hill, and at the same moment a great black thing came bounding down towards Hester. It stopped short within a yard of her, and lifted up its head and howled. It was the Curmudgeon's great blaci dog, and it waa tied to a tree before the door. Hester's face was certainly as white as the snow. Fright had taken away all her strength. She could not, at first, even turn to run away. And before her strength came back her courage had come back too. There was in Hester a quiet steadiness of purpose that was quite as strong as any showier kind of bravery. Shp drew a deep breath and walked on. She walked slowly, it is true, and hesitatingly, l'lt ,.he came close up to the dog and hpld out her hand with a shaky little whisper of "Nice boy! Nice boy The" nice boy made a great bound and broke his chain. And then he sprang upon the little girl, but only tn kiss her face. Again and again he kissed it, and wheeled about her, and beat the snow with his fore- ipaws, and cuddled his head at her feet with a frenzy of delight. "Y ou are not a Curmudgeon at any rate," sighed Hester, when she had stopped tremb- ling and had got her breath. The dog followed her up to the door and stood, wagging and panting, while she knocked. He had evidently made up his mind to see her through her adventure. "Is Mr. Carmichael at home?" she asked the dull-looking woman who came in answer to the knock. The woman looked at Hester and pointed down the hall. Then she went away, leav- ing the child and the great dog alone in the dimness It was very dim indeed in the Curmud- geon's house. But Hester, like the other children, had been there in the days of Mr. Endicott. So she walked down the hall and paused outside the library door. Her heart iwas beating very fast. It was not too late to run away even now, she thought. A Curmudgeon might be very cruel to such a bold little girl. She remembered the beak nose. and the working eyebrows, and the eagle eye:?. and took a few flitting, run- away steps. "I am more Tra-U of him than I was of the (to- thought Hester. "I've met. so many dogs, but I never met Cri..iwdgc.-ii before in all my life." But the dog licked her hand encourag- ingly, and she came back. She knocked very softly, and hed open the door. T here, 111 front of his'dun fire, jrst ;t.; she had p hiii), sut the Curmudgeon, jo- c upon-his hand, and the fireUght g?owi" i'n up. hi.. sad old eye- Hester h? jj-fucd the dro^ so very so?'<!y th?'. she haj Utr? <«) !ook a long minute bci're she wa? vioti" and during that mf- utt, ^he.«aw that the sad old eyas were full of tlenrs. At '?e tnd of the minute Mr. Carmjef¡nd <ookrdnp n? .?'?vered, with a start, the 1;.t.41 >'r* :K- or v sy. '!•• •••.•■ V • > ..('kcd'ip and ¿("I:; :?uin, ,'thi his i?nd: ) 'clutched almost Sercely at the arm of Ms chair. Hester noticed that even under the glow of the fire, his face grew rather white. Then suddenly he leaned towards her, a the sweetest smile Hester had ever eeca flashed up from his sensitive lips to bis keen, kind eyes. He put out his hand. "A little girl said the Curmudgeon softly. "Who has sent me a little girl for Christmas Eve?" Hester came up close to him and laid her little hand upon his knee. "Nobody sent me. Mr. Carmichael." she said shyly. "I came 'cos I thought maybe I'd wish you a merry Christmas, and maybe you'd be jes' a little lonely to-night." The old man took off Hester's wraps as skilfully as a mother, and drew the soft, bright-haired soul to his knee. Hester found herself leaning comfortably against him. She was sure he had held little girl. before Even her father was not more "comfortable" than Mr Carmichael. "Do you know," said the Curmudgeon dreamily, "I was thinking, when you camt in of a little girl?" "Is that why you were crying?" "Ah! But I am not crying any more" The black dog had come to rest his great head on Mr. Carmichael's other knee. Hit eyes were wistfully full of a desire to under- stand. He's a very nice dog, isn't he?" said Hester. "I used to be afraid of him. It is very silly to Le afraid of things." And she cuddled closer. "What is your name, little Christmas- Eve-girl?" "llctîter sir." "Then, Hester, will you spend Christmaa Eve with me? I will have a message car- ried to your parents." Hester had a momentary pang. But aain the thought of her father, with his six rollicking children all so much livelier than the big black dog, occurred to her, and she looked up bravely with her dear little shy smile. "I should love to, Mr. Carmichael." she said. He stood up at once, very much pleased. and he called the woman and told her to "light up." When the big, dark room had been made cheerful with drawn curtains and kindled lamps, and the leaping Samei that sprang up to welcome a fresh log, Mr. Carmichael added: l "Bring the cake and the wine too, Martha. Let everything be as it was when "—his voice dropped a little—"when my grand-daughter was with us on Christ- mas Eve." Martha bustled about. quite roused from her vagueness, and Hester began to forget that she had ever been afraid. "How very wrong Tommy was about Curmudgeons!" she thought. For this Curmudgeon was the best of company He was droll and sweet and sympathetic. He gave Hester a tiny sip of wine and a great piece of cake with icing, and he gave himself a glassful of wine and a small piece of cake "to make things even." They drank to each other's health, and Hester was taught to touch glasses and to say, "Here's to » merry Cijristmas "which delighted her "And now," cried Mr. Carmichael, when the last drop and the last crumb had dis- appeared, "come with me Hester, for some reason, began to feel ex- cited She put her hand in his and looked lip eagerly at him as he led her through the lug rooms and across the hall to a closed door. "And what do you think is in there, Bested" he cried mysteriously. "I don't know." whispered Hester, but the colour came up into her face. Then shut your eyes," said Mr. Car. michael, "and 'open sesame' There was the sound of an opening door and Hester s hds flew wide. She shut them again at once for dazzlement. The world seemed full of towering green and gold A tree blazed to the ceiling. It was gilded and glistening Ball" of silver flashed back the light of a thousand candles on its generous, broad boughs Winged cherubs hung on bright wings, starry wreaths wrapped its trunk. And a great star. like the one that bad beckoned to her outside, trembled on its topmost branch Hester thought it must have come down through the roof to see her surprise and to rejoice in her obedience to its summons-the dear, kindly Christmas star. Hester had put her hands to her cheeks for ra pture, and her eyes were very large. "Oh!" she said. and "Ob!" again. Then. forg-ptful of herself and of every- one. she began to flit about like a dazzled little white moth How the old man watched her under his working brows, and how Martha laughed with her apron to her eyes All at once Hester stopped short. She had made a discovery. Under the tree were Christmas present. They were presents for a little girl She could see a big, round- eyed lady doll in a chair, and a wee. round- eyed baby doll in a cradle And there were books aud games. She crept up, and gazed and reverently touched. While she was gazing. Mr. Carmichael laid his hand on her head. "Every Christmas Eve I have the tree in memory of my little girl," he said, "and afterwards 1 send away the presents. But, Hester, this Christmas you are my little girl, and the presents are all yours." It was very marvellous and bewildering to shy little Hester, who had never had an adventure in her life. The time passed like a dream. And when at last Martha had put her into her cloak and hat, kissing her as if she couldn't help it, it seemed quite natural to Hester that Mr. Carmichael should lift her up, doll and all, and say: m "And now I will carry my little Christ- mas-Eve girl home." He stepped out with her into the silent night, and the great black dog followed them, snuffing affectionately at Hester's little dangling feet. "I will thank you now," murmured Hester drowsily, "and I will tell you some- thing funny, too, if you would like to hear it. Mr. Carmichael said he would like to hear something funny very much. Hester meant to fell him about silly little Tommy, but long before she could get to the point of her story, she was fast asleep in the Curmudgeon's strong and gentle arms.

Christmas for the Little Folks.…

Newyddion

Dyfynnu

Rhannu

Christmas for the Little Folks. ) "FOR VALOUR." I When Bobby was one Christmas asked what he was going to be when he was a man, he always answered, "A soldier, like Grandpapa." Of all his toys he loved his red-coated soldiers the best. He knew that when visitors spoke of "the General" they meant his grandfather; but when a lady satd, "General Fraser has the V.C., hasn't he?" he wondered what that could be. So one day he asked his grand- father to ^xplaio The General put down his newspaper, and unlocking a drawer, took out a medal in the Sihape of a Maltese Cross. "This is the Victoria Cross, Bobby, and it is given For Valour.' That means that the man who wins it must have performed some very brave deed." "And what did you do, Grandpa?" asked Bobby. "A long time ago," said the General, rt. few British soldiers, out scouting, had to ride for their lives to escape from a howling mob of Sepoys—that is, Indian soldiers." "Couldn't they have stopped and fought them?" asked Bobby. "No, they would have been cut to pieces, and a soldier's life belongs to his country; he must take care of it. Well, our men came to a river; in they went, but one of them had his horse shot, and the stream carried him down. A young lieutenant, who had reached the bank, jumped his horse into the river again and saved the man's life, though the Sepoys were firing hard at them. So Queen Victoria gave him the Victoria Cross when he got back to England." "That was you, Grandpa," cried Bobby triumphantly. A CHRISTMAS SERENADE. I Now, do come out, sweet Millie May, Indoors you should no longer stay. I have a stick of candy here, And you with me shall share it, dear. "You heard my snowballs when they struck Against your wall? Well, that was luck! I threw them just to let you konw That I was waiting here below." That was the song of Eddie Brown, And Milli, May came tripping down. The candy proved f tempting bait, And half, at least, of it she ate! But only fancy! Eddie played A trick upon the tiny maid. He kissed her, ere he let her go, Beneath a sprig of mistletoe! THE CATS' CONCERT. I Titty Mouse, Tatty Mouse, and Creepy Mouse all went to the cats' concert, although they had no tickets, and no one invited them. They did not go in, in the proper way, through the door, but crept in through holes and cracks in the floor. For some time ncbody noticed them, for everybody was busy looking at the beautiful bows of ribbon which the pussy performers wore round their necks and tails, and in listening to the music. Titty Mouse, Tatty Mouse, and Creepy Mouse did not listen to the music until Miss Snow White and Mr. Coal Black began to sing a song called "Three Blind Mice." Then they listened because they fancied the song was about themselves; but they did not like it at all because they thought it was not true. "How dare they say we are blind?" asked Titty Mouse angrily, when Mr. Black and Miss White sang over and over again, "Three blind mice! Three blind mice!" "If we could not see much better than they can they would have caught us long ago, for they como blundering into the kitchen, night after night, when everyone is in, bed and the lights are out." "And it is ridiculous to suppose that we could ever do anything so foolish as to run after the farmer's wife," declared Tatty Mouse, who was really quite offended when both Mr. Black and Miss White shouted at the top of their voices: "They all ran after the farmer's wife, Who cut off their tails with a carving knife. Did you ever see such a sight in your life As three blind mice?" "No, I never did, and, what is more, I never expect to," replied Creepy Mouse crossly. "But if you wait a minute I will show you that my tail has not been cut off." And creeping boldly from his hidine-place behind the footlights, he began to dance upon the platform, waving his long tail in the air. It was a good thing for him that there happened to be a hole in the boards a little wav off, for when Miss Silver Grey, who was playing the piano, struck a wrong note, and looked round quickly to bee if anyone had noticed it, she caught sight of him. Next moment, forgetting that she was at a con- cert with her best bow on, and so ought to behave very nicely, she sprang from the mii'-io-stool just in time to miss ths tip of Creepy Mouse's tail as it vanished under the floor. Titty Mouse and Tatty Mouse bolted out of sioht as f'uiekty a.s he did, through holes in the boards, and Miss Grey returned to the piano looking very much ashamed of herlf, while Mr. Black and Miss White sang quite out of tune with surprise, and all the other pussies purred with amuse- ment. The three mice did not go back to the concert, but made their way to t'he empty kitchen, where they all met again. Well!" said Tittv Mouse, who was 8mft'. ing the tableclo'h to find out if the cook had had cheese for supper, "that is the first concert I ever went to, and it will bo the last." "Quite right!" agreed Tatty Mouse. Creepy Mouse chuckled until he nearly fell off the candlestick, in which he had found a ta-itv eandle-end. "No one is likely to sing nint stupid song about the blind mice again," said he; "I showed everyono what nonsense it is." I MEETING FATHER CHRITMAS. It was Christmas Eve. Suddenly Elizabeth smiled with her face because she had thought of something very nice. She decided that she would go and meet Father Christmas. So she picked up the Golliwog and the Dutch Doll and went out. After some time Elizabeth stopped very still and s hivered, because s he hard a funny sort of sound coming along the snow to- wards her. And she saw a little man in a red dress, dragging a sleigh, Th.-n -lid Elizabeth scream very loudly be- si> ww frightened, and she dropped Du Golliwog aud the Dutch Doll in the Know and ran very fast and hid behind a tret, And t,he litH". man in red, who happened to be one of the goblins who made toys for Father Christinas, came nearer and nearer, until he came, right, by where the Golliwog and the Dutch Doll were lying in the snow, J Then he stopped running, and smiled, and he picked up the Golliwog and the Dutch ) Doll and put tlirm In his sleigh and ran off, And Elisabeth wept and ran quickly after | thorn, But tfifi legs of the goblin were very swift, and she could not manage to catch Ij him, ) Su she went back Badly to her home {ynd j went to slc-p, And next morning, when it was Christinas, she looked, and there stick- ing out of her two ftockings were the Golli- wog and the Dutch DolU For Fa?er Christen? had happenedl think that it would be nice to give them 18 her!

(ALL RIGHTS RXBZRVBD.) V Tricks…

Newyddion

Dyfynnu

Rhannu

(ALL RIGHTS RXBZRVBD.) V Tricks for Christmas -t aLASS DEFIED. r A 96fy interesting trick and one that will puzat. many (who are not pretty well up in is that where an ordinary dinner plite tflled with water and a small empty bottle are employed. Assure the spectators that you are wizard enough to pour water through the solid bottom of the latter, then THE WATER RISES. I pass the bottle around that all may see it perfectly empty and dry. Having thrust a stick into it, and held it to the fire until it is very hot-too hot to hold in the bar-a hands—stand it, mouth downward, in the plate of water. At the same time pour a tablespoon full of water on the upturned bottom, as if yon were beginning to fill it in that way. Each time you do this the bottle will be seen to retain more water, and as a corresponding amount will have disappeared from the plateful from which you are dip- ping it, it will easily appear as though the water had passed through the bottom of the bottle. Of course, the fact is that the water really rises from the plate with the contrac- tion of the air as the bottle cools. A FIXE CARD TRICK. I Here is one of the most successful card tricks ever invented. It is performed with the ace, deuce, and three of any given suit, say, for instance, diamonds. You make be- lieve to take them from an ordinary pack, and then present them to the audience, as shown in the illustration below, when they appear quite normal, save for the fact (which is rarely noticed) that they lack the usual index at the corners. The ace and deuce are ordinary, but the supposed thre6 is a "trick" card like the lower card in the diagram. The absence of a third pip is con- cealed, when the cards are shown in the diagram, by the card in front of it. After thus showing the three cards, you lay them face down on the table, a few inches apart. After explaining that they have the faculty of invisibly changing places, you invite someone to say which is the ace. He naturally points out the right one, but you say, "No, here is the ace," picking up the trick card by ite farther end, when the finger tips will conceal the surplus pip, and the card will appear to be in fact the ace. Laying this card down again, you move all three about a little, and once more in- vite your victim to pick out the ace. Having followed the movement of the cards, he of course now indicates the trick card, but you say "No You are wrong again," picking up and showing the real ace. A performer of good address can keep up the fun for some minutes. THE MAGNETISED HAT. I As a little addition to your performance try this little experiment. As you know, a piece of black thread is the amateur con- juror's best friend, and it plays an im- portant part in the trick of the mesmerised bowler. In this, after a few passes have been made over it, the hat will cling to the performer's hand as though held by some magnetic attraction. The hat can be transferred from hand to hand without fall- ing. The thread should be tied round the I A MAGNETIC ATTRACTION. I hat, as the illustration, but not too tightly. In the process of making the passes the hand is slipped under the thread, between the side of the hat and the brim, and slid along until it rests on the crown. When the audience have been sufficiently mysti- fied the conjuror can break the thread by a slight upward pressure of the fingers. With nienty of practice you can make this a very effective trick. I THE DISAPPEARING PENNY. Take a circular piece of glass the size of a penny, which you must hide up your left sleeve. Then fill a tumhler full of water, iid ask for the loan of a handkerchief and penny. Receive the handkerchief fix-st, a lId ostensibly shake it with both hands m the air. The real object of this movement is to regain possession of the piece of glas, iiiid, once this has been accomplished, you (Mil hide your hand by ke.-chief loosely over it. Then take the tiiny, and, introducing it under the folds ■ j! the handkerchief, drop it down your sh-eve unnoticed. At the same time thrust I 1;0 piece oi glass upwards, and your audi- ewe will be deceived into believing that it the penny you are still holding under- :>e:»t!i th? handkerchief. Give it to a lady or gentleman to hold over the g'ass of and arrange the folds of the hand- kerchief so that none of the tumbler can be At a givenvsignal your friend must let go his hold, and the piece of glass will -h k i the bottom of the tumbler, striking i ti. like a coin a-s'it falls. Then, v hen the handkerchief is removed, the penny which you are supposed to have been using II while has strangely disappeared.

OUR LONDON LETTER.

Newyddion

Dyfynnu

Rhannu

OUR LONDON LETTER. [From Our Special Correspondent.] London. Some of us, as we approach Christmas, are inclined to gratify the whim for look- ing back over the year that is nearly gone. How have we fared as a nation? How has the civilised world fared? To those ques- tioii, many people will return the most pessimistic of answers. It is just as well, however, to try to bring all the factors into account before one writes down a final judg- ment. Recall the conditions under which the year 1919 opened. A vast percentage of the world's goods had vanished in the havoc of a destructive conflict. Food was scarce. The ships had been sunk that could bring necessaries over from lands unaffected by the war. In many countries agricul- tural man-power was reduced, and thfc machinery lacking by which replacements of goods could be effected. After making due allowance for the bad beginning of 1919 and for the political disorganisation of most of the peoples of Europe, it is not impos- sible to come to the conclusion that this year of Victory and vicissitudes has seen a wonderful recovery in many directions. BETTER DAYS AHEAD. I In Great Britain, at any rate, nobody can doubt that an industrial and commer- cial revival is taking place Every day the columns of the Press are crammed with the prospectuses of newly-floated companies. These undertakings, some of them gigantic in scope, like the six million motor-car I manufacturing concern, are an indication that investors have money that can be ob- tained. More important is the indication that there is a public ready to buy the manufactured articles, even when prices are high. It will be said that these are pro- fiteers. If it be so, their parting with their profits may not be amiss, for the outcome will be the disappearance of unemployment, and, let us hope, the arrival of good times for the workers. THE UPS AND DOWNS OF POLITICS. How has the year affected us politically? Undoubtedly the Coalition has received some buffets, but that was inevitable. No sooner had Mr. Lloyd George announced the com- position of his new Government in January last than the prophets began to predict the •'arlv breaking up of the combination. Mr. Mastennan was certain that he could detect the seeds of disintegration, and he was right in one guess—that some of the power- 1,1 Press support would soon be with- drawn. Nevertheless, in spite of Press attacks, the disintegration has not come. and the Coalition is still strong in the House of Commons and in the country. Every Government loses seats, and the larger the majority in the House the more room there is for casualties. This Govern- ment's casualties have been so light that the working margin by which it carries its measures would, at the present rate of loss, hardly be jeopardised in thirty years. The great asset of the present administration is the public's knowledge that the Acts passed in 1919 have been more numerous and more progressive than would have been possible if a large partisan Opposition had existed. Not only, therefore, is the Coalition intact, but its power may be said to have become consolidated. WHAT THE PREMIER READS. I Somebody-it is believed to be Sir George Riddell-has been describing in the Christ- man number of "John o' London's Weekly" the preferences of Mr. Lloyd George in his hours of reading. We learn that the Prime Minister likes biographies, collections of speeches, novels, and newspapers. He cares little for scientific works, and, although his speeches are strongly tinged with poetic imagery, he does not spend much time on the poets. His terse statements, telling phrases, and merry epigrams come, of course, from his fertile brain; He quotes less than other orators, and, when he does, it is more often than not the Bible that he draws upon. His interest in newspapers is great; he divides his early morning reading be- tween his official dispatches and the edi- torial comments on his policy. If any de- fects can be discovered in his legislative proposals or in the administrative work of the departments, they are swiftly known t. him. LABOUR IN 1920. I One of the rumours of the last few ciays has taken the form of foretelling a formid- able strike in February. About that time the propaganda demonstrations of the miners in favour of nationalisation will have come to an end, and it is suggested that the threat of a national strike will be used by the miners, the railwaymen and the trans- port workers, in the event of the refusal of the Government to agree to nationalise the mines. This rumour seems to take it for granted that the mass of the people will by then have been converted to the miners' gospel, and that the strikers will feel that they have the country at their back. The probabilities, however, point in another direction. It is much more likely to happen that the question of taking over the mines will appear to the majority to be a side question affecting their daily lives about as much as the Channel Tunnel pro- ject, and much less than the anti-rats and mice campaign. They will refuse to get ex- cited about it, and they will accept the Government's assurance that it has more pressing matters before it than nationalisa- tion. Then the Labour leaders, who have on more than one recent occasion exhibited a capacity for retiring gracefully from an untena ble position, will postpone the crisis If the great strike ever comes, it will arise on an occasion when the Labour world is smarting under a deep sense of injustice, not on an issue involving a vast speculative risk in a period of financial difficulty. THE END OF THE WORLD. America sends us changes of weather a,nd sometimes important information. Not in- frequently the weather is unsatisfactory and the information unreliable. The news, for instance, that the world would come to an end on December 17 has proved one of those overstatement- the case that lead us to distrust any similar statements from that quarter in future If recalls the an- nouncements that were -made iu Ilkij that I the war would Le over in two months, although doubtless those who kept repeat ing the two-months propiv.y throughout the succeeding years were I say: "We told you t-o. it aieo recalls the assurances given to the Kaiser that Pa riA was -.to-,it to fall or that his troops would Reize the Channel ports by such and such a I date. The deluded monarch would anxiously ask his assembled gene re I- "Hns anybody here seen Calais?" Prof"sss: P -\a, the I American astronomer, must now fix .some later date for mundane annihilation. Will he ever be able to say: "I told you so?"

Llandovery Gossip.

Newyddion

Dyfynnu

Rhannu

Llandovery Gossip. [By CIW BOWDDWR."] I A Merry Christmas to all was my wish when I stirred the Yuletide pudding. « « Again I urge readers to think and do what they can for the poor, especially the old-age pensioners. With fruit, meat and poultry at present prices, there need be no fear of their over- feeding. May every profiteer in the land suffer as the aged and infirm poor have suffered this year. May the milk rampers—the destroyers of infants,- share their fate. t f The- end of the world has not hap- pened, after all. Ciwion Bawddwr were in no way alarmed by the prophecy-no, not even the most timid of old maids. Just after I had written the fcrc going notes, I came across this cheer- fd paragraph in Friday s newspapers? !—" Mr. Bon?r Law, having consulted I r' '1 k" h I the OpDositton, undertoo k Wit' t e con- sent of the House to push through Bill to increase old age pensions so that the recipients might receive the in- rcf.se 1 allowances by Christmas." Very good. Still, the increases ought r.uve come long ago. If the truth were knevm, the delay due to privation has been responsible for the hastening of -the deaths of a good many of the aged. A sarcast i c contr i butor suggests thai a goo d many of the leading pro fiteer! in the towns an d villages through whici the Prem i er will pass on the occasi oc of his tour to rece i ve the free d om ol Welsh boroug h s are eager l y looking forwar d to rece i v i ng honours an d dis t i nct i ons for the part they have playef in fleecing the public. Perh aps so But they may be disappointed. Tatt l er, in The Weekly Te l e- grap h says he can 't un d erstan d whj more lady inspectors are not appointed an d that at a good wage. After all: shopping is not a man s job, an d th* cheating tra d esmen know it. Of tin prowling official in petticoats they hav» a lively horror, an d at the sight of her, prices come tum b ling down like naught) bovs up an apple tree w h en the farmet ro l ls into v i ew. Greenoc k has a Iadjj inspector. Bermon d sev gave the posl to a war wi d ow at £ 4 a wee k an d 1 as k e d he: hov. r s h e wa<= yetting OIL T h ey re frightened of me. Mrs< R i c h ar d son smiled at the Tattler. Do vou see t h ose tin baths,? They'll 1' Jd. u dav. m-r ke d down fron j yester d ay s 4s. 6d. Yes. it is a vesrj ns j v game. Ugliest of all is ^hat th^ s h nrv. in the very poorest districts play I it hot l v—estiec i a l lv ou Sunday morn* ines wh en they open for an hour of fwo an d dr i ve harr i e d roar i ng tra d e; I fancv the pro fiteers think I i? k e a Sabbath rest. So t h ey ve a surpr i se if. store for them at my next descent. 1 know e^art l y w h at to Io>k in th< I crow d e d butc h ers sn d grocers s h oos; w h ere ha penn i es an d nenn -^s iurro intc i « • •• DOVS up an appie tree wnen tne tarmet ro l ls into v i ew. Greenoc k has a Iadjj inspector. Bermon d sev gave the posl to a war wi d ow at £ 4 a wee k an d 1 as k e d he: hov. r s h e wa<= yetting OIL T h ey re frightened of me. Mrs< R i c h ar d son smiled at the Tattler. Do vou see t h ose tin baths,? They'll 1' Jd. u dav. m-r ke d down fron j yester d ay s 4s. 6d. Yes. it is a vesrj ns j v game. Ugliest of all is ^hat th^ s h nrv. in the very poorest districts play I it hot l v—estiec i a l lv ou Sunday morn* ines wh en they open for an hour of fwo an d dr i ve harr i e d roar i ng tra d e; I fancv the pro fiteers think I ia k e a Sabbath rest. So t h ey ve a surpr i se if. store for them at my next descent. 1 know evart l y w h at to look in th< I crow d e d butc h ers sn d grocers s h oos; w h ere ha penn i es an d nenn -^s iurro intc i « • ••